From CIWF Press Office:

Belfast has become the first UK port to be used for
shipments of live sheep to the Continent after the
lifting of foot-and-mouth disease restrictions.
Already, two shipments have left with sheep
originating from both Northern Ireland and the
Republic of Ireland.

These initial shipments have been organised by Richard
Otley using the Khalifeh-1 livestock boat. Mr Otley
has previously been convicted for an animal cruelty
offence in connection with live sheep transportation.

Compassion in World Farming is organising a peaceful
protest against this trade at the Harbour Office, Port
of Belfast, Corporation Square, Belfast at 10:30a.m.
on Thursday 7th March 2002. CIWF wants no further
shipments of live farm animals to leave from the
Belfast port.

Joyce D'Silva, Director of Compassion in World
Farming, said "This is catastrophic. We had hoped that
the farming industry would see sense and not try and
restart this inhumane trade. I urge UK sheep farmers
to abandon the live sheep export trade which so often
inflicts great suffering on animals.

Last week the French authorities refused entry for
livestock from Khalifeh-1, apparently due to errors in
paperwork. As a result the sheep were left on the boat
for 12 days before being returned to the Republic of
Ireland for slaughter.

Richard Hardy, organiser of the protest and Campaigns
Manager for CIWF (Ireland) said, "Long distance
transport often inflicts widespread suffering on
animals and risks spreading infectious diseases. CIWF
is gravely concerned that Belfast will become a 'Port
of Shame' if it continues to export live animals to
the Continent. We are calling on the Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development not to allow the
return of the Khalifeh-1 or any other livestock boat
into a Northern Ireland port".